EU member states reject extending spectrum licence terms

EU member states have rejected a European Commission proposal to extend licences for wireless radio spectrum to last at least 25 years – one of the cornerstones of the EU executive’s new attempt to overhaul telecoms law, reports Euractiv.

“The Estonian government, which is leading member state negotiations on EU legislation until the end of the year, has axed the measure requiring longer licences from its newest proposal on the telecoms bill.” Currently, licences allowing telecoms operators to use radio spectrum are auctioned off for an average of 15 to 20 years in EU countries. Estonian diplomats working on the bill have asked other member states to submit alternative suggestions to replace the Commission’s requirement for 25-year spectrum licences that could “ensure investment certainty”. Ninety per cent of companies that responded to a Credit Suisse survey in June said that the proposal to extend licences to 25 years would increase their interest in investing in the telecoms sector. http://bit.ly/2h2ICwO